Howdy! Get your cowboy hats ready this November for Miri Country Music Festival (MCMF) is back for its ninth year.
The two-day festival is slated to take place from 25 until 26 November at the Eastwood Valley Golf and Country Club for the first time ever.
The return of the annual festival after a brief hiatus due to the pandemic is expected to gather more than 2,000 country music enthusiasts from neighbouring countries such as Singapore, Brunei, Australia as well as domestic tourists Sabah, Miri, Kuching, Bintulu, Lawas and Bario.
In his opening remarks, Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts and Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak said that the event has grown steadily since its inception in 2014 with a big following for country music in the Far East.
“Well done to Place Borneo for not only creating MCMF but also for their efforts in promoting this city (Miri) as a value-for-money and top-of-mind tourist destinations in Sarawak, with Miri being the gateway to one of the World’s Heritage Area,” said Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
Among the lineup for this year’s festival include Miri’s own music talents Lyia Meta, Mountain Wind, Country Road Band and Sessions: The Band.
Not only that but there are also international performers to look forward to such as Tantowi Yahya, Johnny Loda Trio, Ramon Cedillo, Cambodia Country Band and Kamal Bukhary.
Some 28-line dancers from Singapore are expected to further enliven the festival.
What’s different this year, the event introduced its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative called ‘Buku Project’, carrying the theme “One Book for Life”.
On her part, festival founder Gracie Geikie said that the project is a collaboration with an international school, Knewton Global Schools.
The gathering of pre-loved books will be collected via drop boxes which will be located around the festival area where members of the public, festival goers as well as MCMF performers can deposit the books inside.
These books will be given to two rural schools in Long Lama and Long Latei after the festival ends.
“We will also be curating music workshops by MCMF performers for the students of Knewton. We are also teaming up with James Cook University and Curtin University to carry out event research during MCMF. It is about capacity building to ensure that future events can learn and benefit from past experiences,” said Gracie.
Apart from the CSR project, the festival will also include MCMF Golf Tournament, promising attractive grand prizes and a fun time for golfers to play a round of golf during the day and in the evening.
Festival goers do not need to worry about going hungry as there will be an array of food and beverage vendors joining in the fun so you can buy your favourite meals.
There will also fun and more family-friendly activities for all to enjoy.
“In true MCMF tradition, best-dressed cowboys and cowgirls will be awarded hotel stays and free air travel to holiday destinations in Sarawak,” said the event organiser.
Get your tickets at www.miricountrymusic.com and Miri Country Music Fest Facebook page. VIP passes and general admissions are available as well as family packages and student passes.
For enquiries, contact them at 082-555189 or email mona@placeborneo.com
THE BRUNEIAN | MIRI, SARAWAK
